Library Grants

FolletShelf eBooks

Lakeview's library was awarded an innovative grant by our own Northwest Education Foundation, in the amount of $2,557.51, for eBooks through FollettShelf!
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**To access the eBooks, students should go to the Destiny Search Page on the library site. On the left side bar, they should choose FollettShelf. Students will need their ID number to login. Please contact Mrs. Conklin at heather.conklin@nisdtx.org if you have any questions.**

PlayawaysIn the spring of 2010, the Lakeview library was awarded a Northwest Education Foundation (NEF) grant for $3,847.41 to purchase Playaways and their accompanying books! Thank you to NEF for supporting our library!

Not familiar with Playaways? Here are some FAQ's:

What are Playaways?

Playaways are preloaded digital audiobooks. Each one is a self-contained unit with either one or two chapter book(s) or more than one picture book recorded on it.

What comes with a Playaway?

Each Playaway comes with the unit itself, as well as a AAA battery, and a lanyard to make it easy to keep up with. For sanitation reasons, students need to provide their own earbuds.

In addition, this NEF grant has provided funding for a hardback copy of each of the books recorded on the Playaways. Students may check these books out with the units to read along. Checking out the book along with the Playaway will not count against their library checkout limits.

How does my child check out a Playaway?

Playaways typically range in price from $34.99 - $44.99. Obviously, this is more expensive than most library books. In the event that one is lost or damaged, they must be paid for just like library books. In order to make sure that parents aren't caught by surprise if their child loses or damages a Playaway and must pay for it, students will be asked to have a parent permission form signed and on file in the library before checking out a Playaway. Once this is done, however, then they are good to go!

Where can my child or I get the permission form?

Click on this permission form link. Students do not have to renew their permission forms each year.

Which grades may check out Playaways?

Kindergarten through fifth grade students may check out Playaways on their own after having the parent permission form filled out.

How many Playaways can be checked out at a time?

One Playaway can be checked out at a time, along with a copy of the book if the student would like to follow along with the narrator. This is in addition to their normal library checkout limits (one book for kindergarten, two for grades 1-4 and three for grade 5).

What is the checkout period for Playaways?

Playaways are on a two-week checkout period, the same as the majority of library books.

What are some of the titles that will be available?

Over 50 titles are in our Playaway collection. Here are just a few of them:​

For older readers:

What features are included on a Playaway?

Playaways are very simple to operate. The controls include play, stop, pause and a speed feature that allows the student to slow down the rate of narration if a student is following along and cannot read comfortably at the same speed as the narrator. There is no record feature, so it's impossible to accidentally record over the story.

Why was this grant written?

Many students lose the excitement for reading as the years go on. Reading for pleasure gets replaced with many other daily activities, and lifelong reading and learning becomes unimportant to students.
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In addition, students who are struggling readers due to a variety of factors (dyslexia, English as a second language, etc.) often get discouraged. They must practice their reading to improve, but it can be such a tiring struggle for them.
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Studies have shown that using audio books is a great way to motivate and help reluctant and struggling readers. They can also be great for readers who are ready for more challenging texts, though. In this way, Playaways can be beneficial to every student at Lakeview, no matter what their reading level or attitude is. They are already so tuned-in to technology, so it's also very comfortable for them.
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This grant has enabled the Lakeview library to create a strong collection of Playaway units which can be updated and built up in coming years.